University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Intimate experiences in virtual worlds: the interplay among hyperpersonal communication, avatar-based systems, and experiential drives

Freeman, Guo Zhang; Bardzell, Jeffrey; Bardzell, Shaowen

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89293

Description

Title
Intimate experiences in virtual worlds: the interplay among hyperpersonal communication, avatar-based systems, and experiential drives
Author(s)
Freeman, Guo Zhang; Bardzell, Jeffrey; Bardzell, Shaowen
Issue Date
2016-03-15
Keyword(s)
  • intimacy
  • intimate experiences
  • hyperpersonal communication
  • virtual worlds
  • Second Life
Abstract
This paper investigates the intersection of traditional social science understandings of intimacy, established Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) theories developed in the days of text-based Internet communications, and studies of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-mediated intimacy. Using mixed methods, this paper offers an empirical analysis of how users (re)define, interpret, experience, and evaluate “intimacy” in a hyperpersonal sociotechnical system—Second Life (SL). Findings show that SL intimacy closely related to emotional fulfillment, the need to be touched, and interpersonal communication, but that SL intimacy also emphasized new forms of physical proximity. Especially, a subjectively meaningful intimate experience usually emerged in the interplay among self-selection, experiential drives, and technological affordance. This paper contributes to the study of social impacts of ICTs by shedding light on potential changes in how people define and experience interpersonal relationships in hyperpersonal sociotechnical environments.
Publisher
iSchools
Series/Report Name or Number
IConference 2016 Proceedings
Type of Resource
text
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89293
DOI
https://doi.org/10.9776/16239
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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